John 8:53-55 “’Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?’ Jesus answered, ‘If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, “He is our God.” But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word.’”

The Pharisees thought they knew God. They were the “experts”. They were the ones people went to for answers and spiritual guidance. Jesus, who came from the Father, and knows the Father intimately, knew that they did not know him. The problem wasn’t the Pharisees ignorance of the truth but their unwillingness to accept the truth Jesus gave them and adjust their thinking accordingly. How well do you know your Heavenly Father? How certain are you that you have a “perfect portrait” of him? Jesus revealed much about the Father through what he said and did during his ministry here on earth. Since the way we view God directly affects our thoughts which directly affects our actions which directly affects our lives, we must be willing to reshape our view of God (whether or not it is more or less favorable to us) according to the words and teachings of the only one who truly knows him…Jesus. Whether your view of God is as a “cosmic disciplinarian” or some “spiritual gift dispenser”, knowing the truth about our Lord will eliminate misconceptions and misperceptions and enable us to make life decisions with confidence and clarity. It is time to relearn what God is about!

Pray: Lord, although I would like to believe that I have an accurate picture of you, I know the picture I have has been shaped by many different influences, not all of which may have been reliable. Help me to grow in my knowledge of you. Through the teachings of your word and the words of your son, help me to enhance and define the picture I have of you. As I know you better, the choices I make will reflect my better understanding of your true nature and will draw me closer to you. Jesus, help me to know him as you know him…in your holy name I pray - Amen.”